Qualitative research - rigour

Question 1

Is qualitative research less scientific?

Answer 1

• has been accused of lacking scientific rigour (small sample sizes, lack of clarity in reporting data collection and analysis, lack of postion in hierarchy of evidence)
• but can be just as scientific as any other method when conducted well (use right tools (methods) to conduct study)

Question 2

Are the terms validity and reliability helpful in qualitative studies?

Answer 2

NO

• not interested in measurment
• studies are context bound and cant be repeated in exactly the same way

Question 3

What is the alternative term for rigour?

Answer 3

trustworthiness

Question 4

What is the alternative term for reliability?

Answer 4

dependability

Question 5

What is the alternative term for internal validity?

Answer 5

credibility

Question 6

What is the alternative term for external validity (generalisability)?

Answer 6

transferability

Question 7

What is the alternative term for objectivity?

Answer 7

confirmability

Question 8

What is trustworthiness (rigour)?

Answer 8

methodological soundness and adequacy

• dependability (findings consistent and accurate)
• audit trail (reader can follow path of researcher and see how conclusions reached, also helps similar studies to be carried out)
• credibility (PPs recognise researchers interpretation)
• transferability (findings can be transferred/applied to a similar context)
• confirmability (importand findings arent result of researchers preconceptions - audit trail can trace this)

Question 9

How do researchers ensure trustworthiness?

Answer 9

member checking

• check researchers interpretation
• gives PPs a chance to challenge researchers ideas
• avoids misrepresentation of words/ideas

-some researchers question its usefulness

Question 10

What can cause negative cases and rival explanations?

Answer 10

• identification of data that ‘buck’ the trend (dont fit with explanations/ challenge the themes)
• researchers then need to ask why and consider revising interpretation

Question 11

What is peer review?

Answer 11

asking another researcher to analyse the raw data

Question 12

What is triangulation?

Answer 12

• examine topic from different perspectives:
  1. Data triangulation - (common) i.e. different, groups, settings and times
  2. Methodological triangulation - i.e. two or more methods

Question 13

What is an audit trail?

Answer 13

-making all the decisions made throughout the research explicit

Question 14

What is reflexivity?

Answer 14

• bring own biography to the research

- reflect on pre-conceptions: own actions, conflicts and feelings

Question 15

What is the CASP tool for?

Answer 15

critically appraising qualitative research studies (common sense approach)

Question 16

What are the 10 questions for the CASP qualitative tool?

Answer 16

1. clear statement of aims of research?
2. Qual. methodolgy appropriate?
3. research design appropriate to address aims?
4. recruitment strategy appropriate to aims?
5. data collected in way that addressed issue?
6. rel. between researcher and PPs adequately considered?
7. Ethical issues considered?
8. Data analysis sufficiently rigourous?
9. clear statement of findings?
10. How valuble is the research? transferrable?etc.